FIFA World Cup: Kite surfer hits Robin van Persie and Darly Janmaat on Rio beach

Netherlands captain Robin van Persie and defender Daryl Janmaat have survived a close encounter with a kite surfer on Rio’s Ipanema beach.

Janmaat, who is expected to be in Louis van Gaal’s starting lineup for Friday’s Group B opener against Spain in Salvador, says the kite surfer nearly floored him during a stroll along the beach in front of the Dutch team’s hotel on Monday.

He told Dutch public broadcaster NOS “Almost got a kite on my head. A man was kite surfing and he fell exactly where I was standing.”

Though both were struck as the kite surfer landed, Netherlands team management says neither player was badly hurt in the incident and they will train as planned Tuesday afternoon.